Tory associations are already at war with the leadership over the referendum and the aborted Feldman plan to merge local parties. Now angry association chairman are complaining to CCHQ about the candidate cull that took place in the last 10 days. Guido has spoken to several local Tory chiefs who are very upset that their preferred candidates have been removed from the approved candidates list, without explanation. This has happened across the country. In some cases, the purged candidates stood for election in 2015, achieved a respectable result and have the full support of their associations to run next time round, but CCHQ has kicked them off the list. Judging by some of those booted off – and some of those left on – this isn’t a simple clear out of failed or weak candidates. A number of prominent Eurosceptics have been removed, as well as some Remainers. Some associations have even been told they won’t be able to select their own candidates for next year’s local elections, a move which has gone down like a cup of cold sick. The timing is particularly unfortunate too – one local Tory figure describes CCHQ’s actions as “Stalinist“. Tory Head of Candidates Gareth Fox’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing…